August 18
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PROPHETIC GIFT EDIFIES THE CHURCH
Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification. – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
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In this letter, Paul once again reminds the Corinthians believers to pursue love earnestly so they may prophesy. Blue Letter bible defines the gift of prophecy as a special ability to speak forth the message of God. A prophet is basically a spokesman for God. He or she delivers the Word of God to people by means of direct revelation. Prophetic utterances can deal with certain individuals, the church, or a larger context. It does not always refer to the future. The word is used far more to proclaim the Word of God rather than to predict the future. Farnell, cited in Kistemaker also comments that “Preaching is essentially a merging of the gifts of teaching and exhortation, prophecy has the primary elements of prediction and revelation. Paul emphasizes in verse 1 that we seek after agape love so that we can deliver God’s Word through prophecy for edification, exhortation and comforting the body of Christ.
Guzik comments that “Edification is “building up.” A word of prophecy will build someone up, not tear him or her down. Exhortation is encouragement. A word of prophecy will encourage someone, not discourage him or her. Comfort has the idea of not only consoling, but also strengthening. A word of prophecy will strengthen, not weaken someone.” In this letter, Paul differentiates the difference between the recipients of the two gifts in verse 4. The gift of tongues builds up oneself because it is used to communicate with God in a different language while the prophecy targets to edify the body of Christ. The tongues is useful to grow in your prayer life and intimacy with the Lord, but the prophetic gift will grow the whole family of believers because the revelation will reach the hearts of each member of Christ’s body and help them grow into maturity to bring forth the kingdom of God on earth.
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REFLECTION
• How can the pursuit of love grow us in our prophetic gifts?